The main aim of the project was to increase access to bicycles by providing marginalized youth with the skills, knowledge, and motivation to become daily bike commuters. Through research, we identified the barriers preventing these groups from cycling and developed a program to address these gaps. By implementing the project, we achieved the following: 1. Youth workers and social professionals gained the ability to create tailored approaches for improving road safety literacy, particularly for vulnerable groups. They joined a transnational network of professionals offering innovative solutions and promoted green transport for better health and environmental outcomes. 2. Young migrants, refugees, and marginalized youth benefited from access to cycling information and support for safe road behavior. They improved road safety literacy, learned the benefits of green transport, enhanced their health, acquired bike maintenance skills, and acted as ambassadors for green mobility. 3. Partner organizations established lasting cooperation by setting up an NGO to serve economically marginalized communities beyond the project’s timeline.
We applied for this project because we live in a time where chronic diseases, air pollution, and climate change, exacerbated by car-centric cities, are growing concerns. The biggest killers, such as ischemic heart disease and cancer, disproportionately affect economically disadvantaged and socially excluded groups, and sedentary lifestyles contribute significantly to these issues. Numerous studies have shown that regular physical activity, such as cycling, reduces cardiovascular disease risk, making cycling a critical component of healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. The European Union’s policies, including the European Green Deal, prioritize green transport, making this an ideal time to promote cycling. However, bicycle use remains low in some regions, particularly among migrants and refugees, with women from these backgrounds cycling even less. This project addresses the lack of mobility, road safety literacy, and social inclusion for these marginalized groups. By providing knowledge and skills for safe cycling, we can enhance their mobility, reduce social exclusion, and offer new employment opportunities in the growing cycling sector, contributing to green transport and economic inclusion.